The Bridgeport Senior City League representatives play Thursday and Friday in Battle Creek, Mich., in round-robin pool play at the World Series. Eight of the 12 teams then advance to a single-elimination bracket.

"We haven't put too much pressure on ourselves all year," said Siksay, whose team is 25-8. "We've had the attitude, `Why not us?'"

The team goes back to 1993 and had never been no-hit, Siksay said. That Thursday no-hitter at the hands of the Hackensack (N.J.) Troasts was a shocker.

"Then we put together a win," Siksay said. "Then another win. Then another win. Fedell's (Mechanics, also from the BSCL), they were the favorites, probably, and we beat them 2-1 (in the regional semifinals); Steve Marks threw a gem. They're a very resilient group of guys. They're guys who are willing to do whatever, bunt, hit-and-run."

The team reached the AABC World Series in 2012, but many players couldn't travel to Florida. Last year's AABC World Series was on Long Island; the easier trip and consolidation with Bellows helped make them champions.

Of the top five hitters from last year's team, only one played this year, and he played just four games.

"I think we've scored three and a half runs a game. It's been pitching and defense," said Siksay, who admitted he was surprised at the 12-1 win over West Haven's Baybrook Remodeling in the final.

"The roster turned over completely. ... I'm really proud of what the team did. This'll be our third straight World Series, and this one feels the best."

The team is close-knit, the manager said, and unselfish; anyone will lay down a bunt, and players who had been in limited roles in past years have stepped up.

"Kyle Trudeau, played at (the University of Bridgeport), from Branford," Siksay said, "he's been with us six years, always been a 7-8 hitter, play where he's needed. He's become a leader. Matt Bartolomei, we call him `Everyday Bartolomei,' because he'll pitch every day in relief or give us a good start."

Rob Ayala was the regional MVP, and an assortment of players from up and down the shoreline or even out of state have chipped in.

Flights to Michigan ran about $700 on short notice, so the team rented vans and will be driving out Wednesday, planning to leave around 4 a.m. Everyone who played in the regional is expected to travel, Siksay said.

The Storm are scheduled to face the (Saginaw) Michigan Braves on Thursday at 12:30 p.m., the Orlando (Fla.) Pirates that night at 7:30, then the Muskies of Beecher, Ill., Friday at 3:30. The top two teams in each pool and two wild cards advance to Saturday's quarterfinals.